Podcasting

Podcasting is not a new idea for me. I have created my own video and audio podcasts for other classes. The podcast that I chose to listen to would be one by Dr. Kathy King and Mark Gura. The podcast that they created is about technology education.

http://teacherspodcast.org/2010/02/28/ep-55-virtualpres/

In the beginning of the podcast, they mention that they are going to have a new feature called "Teacher Feature" next episode. They mention just enough information to keep me hooked and if I remember listen to the next episode.

One of the first things that they start talking about is a feature that we have been using all semester called Voice Thread. From the first interaction with Voice Thread, I loved it. I think it is a fantastic tool that can be used within the classroom and outside of the classroom as well. Dr. King and Gura mention that it is going to improve the future and that power point is almost a thing of the past. It is something that is live, people can make comments about how to change something and you can do it in real time, you won't have to upload the powerpoint again. They also mention that it can be used for professional development. I like all of the ideas that they mentioned with the use of voice thread.

Another feature that they mention is Livesteam. I have not had the opportunity to use Livestream yet but how they were explaining it goes a little like this: It makes everything live, conferences, meetings, possibly even classroom discussions. Gura seemed that this was going to change the way how everything is going to be run mainly because it is available to everyone.

One last thing that they mention within their podcast would be that the Education Department is cutting the funding for Technology Education. By cutting it, they are actually including into the regular education budget rather than it having it's own special section. Gura again sees pros and cons for this. A pro is that technology is finally going to be integrated into the classroom and is thought of that way. A con would be that it may not receive the funding that it deserves.

Overall, it was a good podcast with a lot of information jammed packed into it. I think that it is great that it hits on current events in educational technology. In technology it is always good to be on top of the latest and newest information!

Magazine Cover

Here is my magazine cover from Mod 9. I left it on the computer at work by accident and had to wait to go to work to retrieve it again.

Thanks!!
Lauren

Hot Potatoes

Hot Potatoes is a website for a software download. The software can be used for making multiple choice questions, quizzes, crosswords, and matching. I like this idea because you can make different questions for different classes. I am not too sure about how intense the program is but you might be able to make different questions for different students.

This might be also very useful the substitute teachers, if the software is available at the school district. This is other constraint that not only substitute teachers and regular teachers might run into. A lot of times when you need to install software, you need permission from the IT department, and then they will install it.

It is a great tool. I am excited to use it more.

ePals Maps

The one part of Epals that I explored the most would be the Maps section. This also reminded me of the Google Maps. In our class we used to explore different parts of Buffalo. I feel that if you have Government or a Economics class that you will be able to use it for many reasons, especially because the students do not have to take a final test or have a regents exam. Because of this, the teacher can create something for the students to do for a final project. In most Government classes, the students are usually required to attended meetings such as School Board and Town Board meetings. With this map tool, the students can put where the students can mark where they attended and the they can write a brief description as to what happened at the meeting.